Vermont Medical Marijuana Qualification

Who Qualifies for Medicinal Marijuana in Vermont

In 2007, the Vermont General Assembly passed Senate Bill 7, which amended 18 V.S.A. Chapter 86, the state’s law regarding the use of medical marijuana (also referred to as medical weed, medical pot or medical cannabis). Under Vermont's medical marijuana law, patients diagnosed with a "debilitating medical condition” are exempt from state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana. Patients or their primary caregivers may legally possess no more than two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants; and two ounces of usable marijuana. Qualifying patients must register with and receive a Marijuana Registry Identification Card from the Vermont Marijuana Registry.

How to Become a Medical Marijuana Patient in Vermont

Must be a resident of Vermont with a valid Vermont I.D. as proof of residency. If you do not have a Vermont I.D. an out of state I.D., passport, or other photo I.D. with proof of residency such as bank statement, utility bill, etc. is acceptable.

Obtain a copy of your medical records indicating diagnosis of a qualifying condition, as listed below. Learn how to request your medical records and remember to bring these records with you to your marijuana evaluation appointment.

Obtain a Marijuana Registry Physician’s Medical Verification Form from a physician licensed to practice in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts or New York. (You can find a Vermont medical marijuana doctor here.)

What Ailments Can Be Treated with Medical Cannabis?

Patients in Vermont diagnosed with one of the following illnesses are afforded legal protection under Senate Bill 7:

cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, or the treatment of these conditions, if the disease or the treatment results in severe, persistent, and intractable symptoms; or

a disease, medical condition, or its treatment that is chronic, debilitating, and produces severe, persistent, and one or more of the following intractable symptoms: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe pain; severe nausea; or seizures.

Medical Marijuana Access

Some medical marijuana patients will claim they have a doctor's prescription for medical marijuana, but marijuana prescriptions are in fact illegal. The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug. Therefore doctors are unable to prescribe marijuana to their patients, and medical marijuana patients cannot go to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for medical marijuana. Instead, medical marijuana physicians will supply patients with a medical marijuana recommendation in compliance with state law.

According to Vermont medical marijuana law, patients and their caregivers may grow medical marijuana single,secure indoor facility for the patient's private use and may possess up to two usable ounces and nine plants, two of which may be mature. Vermont’s medical marijuana laws do not include provisions for the selling or distributing of medical cannabis.